Keep your feet from cracking and peeling during this winter season.Prepare a foot tub with warm water and Essentially Mint bath salt.Soak feet for at least 10 minutes.Put a scoop of Essentially Mint Sugar Scrub in your palm and rub over your foot making sure you scrub the entire foot. When done, put your foot back in the water to rinse.Repeat process for other foot. Pat each foot dry.Rub a small amount of Essentially Mint Body Butter on each foot.Put on your softest pair of socks.Let the natural oils soothe and moisturize your feet overnight.

*For extra dry feet, it may take a few foot baths to achieve desired result.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. It is a special time to provide respite for those who have given us care and nurturing. We also pay tribute to women who have cared for us in some way, our aunts, sisters, daughters, nieces and close friends. It is essentially about acknowledgement. Many of us take our mothers to dinner, brunch, a day at the spa or simply breakfast in bed. There are many ways that we can say thank you to these phenomenal women who have impacted our lives.

As you all know, Essentially Mint is a mother/daughter team.It is an especially rewarding experience.This year, the mother of the team is recovering from surgery and the daughter of the team has been nursing her back to health.Words can not fully describe this exchange of roles in our relationship.As the mom, I am so thankful to have a nurturing daughter.While she does not have children of her own, I am confident that the care she has provided me is an example of the extraordinary way she will one day parent.

What occurs to me most is the big heart and humility it requires to take care of another person.Our mothers have done that from our births.One day we may need to take care of them in a special way and nothing could be more rewarding for a parent.

So, this Mother’s Day, I invite you to share your appreciation in a special way.Have a bonding experience with her in the form of a foot bath. It is an experience that you both will appreciate and remember in a significant way.

You will need the following:

A foot tub filled with warm water to begin the relaxation process

A pair of soft snuggly sock to immerse her feet when done

A pumice stone or loofah to scrub away the aches and pain

To compliment these items we are offering two Mother’s Day gift boxes. They start at just $20 and can be purchased here or on our Etsy shop.

Just follow the instructions and give yourself permission to enjoy the moment.

As spring approaches, we would like to invite you to join us in that seasonal tradition of spring cleaning.We invite you to explore lemons, that natural product that can be used as an astringent, a cleanser, antibacterial agent and much more.

Last year we introduced a new fragrance – lemony sensations.It is a blend of lemongrass, lemon and lemon balm.It is quite aromatic providing an invigorating and calming sensation.The combination of these essential oils has cleansing and antibacterial properties that can be used to enliven our skin, refresh our closets, as well as deodorize our carpets.

Mix thoroughly using a whisk to blend out any lumps. Sprinkle generously on carpets/rugs.Let stand for 15 minutes.Experience the refreshing scents throughout your home. Vacuum.Place remaining mixture in a glass jar with lid to preserve fragrance and freshness.

As the seasons start to transition and the weather becomes a bit cooler, the warmth of our bed sheets and cover will often try to hold on to us a little longer in the morning. However, every time we hit the snooze button, there is a great chance we might be sleeping away our creativity, productivity and efficiency. Research shows that one trait most successful people have in common is that they are intentional about making their day very top heavy. I use to think this was all fluff, however I'm discovering the importance of truly owning your morning. When possible, I believe the very first part of your day should be dedicated to YOU. Not your work, not your family or friends but to yourself. What happens too often is that we rush into our day without taking time to mentally, phically and spiritually prepare for the the next 12-14 hours. Generally if we are not centered and in a good space that will spill over into everything else we do throughout the day. Here are 5 tips to help you make the most of your morning:

1. Move Your Body Last week I did early morning workouts 3 days of the week. It was incredible how much more productive those days. In addition to actually waking us up, an AM workout creates a sense of accomplishment. When you successfully complete the first task on your list it makes the remaining items that much easier to conquer.

2. Food for Fuel We've all hear the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It makes all the sense it the world. Our first meal of the day will kickstart and give us energy to power through. A large breakfast is great for lazy weekends but when you want to have a productive and fulfilling day try grain, fruits and greens in the morning. Try our Mango Mint Smoothie it is a great way to kick off the day!

3. Choose Positive Thoughts There is a building that I drive past almost every day that says on the side "Choose a Positive Thought". Every single time I see those words I become very conscious of what I'm thinking and if it is not positive I make a change. We have the ability to choose our thoughts. Your thought process in the morning will set the tone for the remainder of the day.

4. Create Something It is unfortunate that creativity in adults isn't more encouraged and celebrated in our society. Often our daily routines don't even allow for us to be creative. I challenge you to take some time in the morning to create the thing that gives you the most joy. For some that might be painting or drawing, for others it might be writing. You will be amazed at how much satisfaction regularly tapping into your creativity will give you.

5. Think, Pray Meditate The first four have focused on our mental and physical, but this last tip is all about the spiritual. Our spirit needs to be fed and nurtured just like our body and mind. Consistently making time for spiritual development in the morning will help ground and guide you.

I hope you find these tips helpful for making the best of your mornings.

Life can be busy, very busy. It seems in today's society we are always on the move at a pace of a million miles per hour. The overwhelm of technology that is suppose to make our lives less complex often does the exact opposite and forces us to become what? You've got it more busy! Now we aren't saying that being busy is necessarily a bad thing. Let's be honest no one wants to be bored to tears. However, when busy causes us to neglect the most important person. (ourselves) then we are truly entering the danger zone.

At Essentially Mint #myinvestmint is our mission. It is our mission and purpose to promote and support you in putting yourself first. Our decision to create an entire natural body care line that uses mint was very intentional. Mint is a natural herb that has soothing properties which promote both rejuvenation and relaxation. We want to help change your daily body care routine from something you rush through to time spent everyday to invest in YOU.

While we love to create natural body care products our #myinvestmint campaign will extend beyond our line of body products and the herb mint. Through our weekly newsletter and social media channels we will share resources, tools and tips that will assist on your journey of investing in you. To sign up for our newsletter please enter your email on the bottom of our website.

It's no secret we are always looking for fun ways to get in our daily servings of fruits and veggies. While we love juicing, the process requires a lot of work and can be a bit time consuming. Preparing a smoothie is not as difficult and takes far less time. We love incorporating mint into our diets because of the various health benefits. This easy and delicious recipe has quickly become a family favorite. Perfect for a post work out drink or a great morning pick me up!

We use multiple substances on our skin daily. We wash with a facial cleanser; we use soap, body wash, lotions, hair creams, moisturizers, perfumes, etc. All of these items are absorbed into our skin, hair, scalp and bodies. We do this on a routine basis, often not realizing the content of the products we use. We blindly trust the manufacturers and sellers of products and believe the items will make our skin feel smoother, our hair more luxurious and an overall enhancement of our beauty. We are bombarded multiple times each day with what is the best hair care, facial care, body care, etc. How do we know what is best for us? We often let the price tag or a name brand determine which selection we will make.

The body care choices are usually overwhelming. However, the ingredients are often harmful.

You’ve heard the saying, “we are what we eat”. The same can be said for what we put on our bodies. We absorb into our bodies what we use on our skin. Our senses are a guide for how we internalize substances. Our bodies have a reaction when we encounter smells. Things that are fragrant make us relaxed and feel good. Strong smells that are toxic make us feel sick. We experience similar reactions when we taste. Foods that are delicious provide us with a satisfied feeling. Foods that are bland, sour or spoiled our bodies reject. The same goes for touch, things that are smooth such as oils and softening creams uplift us as they are massaged into our skin. Cold, hard and abrasive items on our skin create a different reaction that we often find unfavorable. Fragrant perfumes, appetizing foods and soothing oils may all make us feel great on one level, but are we paying attention to the contents in a way that assures that they are good for us?

It is hard to escape buying all of these types of products since there is an overabundance in our consumer market. And, most of us don’t have the time or energy to make our own. We at Essentially Mint have put together this practical guide for you to consider when purchasing body care products. We don’t proclaim it to be the gospel, just something for you to ponder before you put those usual items in your basket. It is an invitation for you to inquire about how to be more selective in what you absorb into your body.

4 Questions to Ask Before Purchasing

Can I read the label?

Can I pronounce the contents in the product?

Do I have an understanding of what the contents are and the impact they will have on my body?

Are there additives or preservatives? I know they add life to the product, but what do they do to me?

Oftentimes products have scientific names with multiple syllables that are not only hard to pronounce but are unknown to us what they mean.

In Conclusion, Buy What is Best for You!

Take a little time to research about natural ingredients that do not have preservatives or additives that are not good for you. We have so many natural products available to us. We just need to take some time to do our homework and look to see what has the elements best for me to promote myself- body, mind and spirit. Taking additional time to research may reveal valuable information that could prove beneficial to your balance and well-being.

Remember, our skin is a living organism just like any other major part of our body. It means taking care of more than just our face. Stay tuned as we share more information caring for our hands, feet, elbows, cuticles, nails and other parts of our body.

On Sunday June 22, we hosted a launch event to introduce our new company Essentially Mint. Attendees of the event experienced a true sensory journey. Surrounded by new and familiar faces, we debuted the signature Essentially Mint products.

The launch was held at Beauty Masters, a full service salon and spa located on the northwest side of Milwaukee. Salon owner Simmone Stovall was thrilled to host the event and said "Essentially Mint is so great because everyone deserves a little relaxation."

Upon entering, customers immediately felt a sense of calmness and relaxation. In addition to the fresh flowers and aromatic candles, the soft music playing allowed everyone to briefly escape the noise of the outside world. As guest became settled, we shared with them our inspiration for creating Essentially Mint. Shortly after, we allowed customers to experience the wonders of using Essentially Mint products. Guest had the opportunity to feel the transforming power of signature Sugar Scrub on their hands. Also, warm foot baths with our relaxing bath salts were available for guest to enjoy.

After product demonstrations, customers had the opportunity to shop the collection, enjoy a refreshing drink and connect with others. Guest left feeling both relaxed and rejuvenated, which is what you'll experience when using Essentially Mint products. We are truly grateful to everyone who attended the launch party, an amazing time was had by all!